The effects on growth and survival of feeding water fleas (Moina macrocopa Straus) and rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis ) to milkfish (Chanos chanos Forsskal) fry

Abstract

The effects of feeding water fleas, Moina macrocopa Straus, and rotifers, Brachionus plicatilis, to milkfish, Chanos chanos Forsskal, fry at different feeding rates and frequencies were investigated. Fry (4.66 mg average weight and 13.45 mm standard length) were stocked in 20 l round plexiglass tanks at 100 per tank in a completely randomized design with four replicates per treatment.

Results indicated beneficial effects of feeding M. macrocopa to milkfish fry. Fry fed M. macrocopa reached a mean individual final weight, daily gain in weight and yields which were significantly higher (P<0.05) than fry fed B. plicatilis. Feeding the fry with M. macrocopa at the rate of 60 individuals per ml resulted in fish that were 3. to 4 times bigger than fry fed B. plicatilis. Feeding M. macrocopa to fry did not significantly increase survival rates.